Find a Lawyer & How to Find a Good Attorney

Flat Fee or Hourly Billing?
Next in your search to find a lawyer is the consideration of finances. You will need to find out if the lawyer charges a flat fee per case, by the hour, or a combination of both. If the attorney charges a flat fee, find out what it would be for your case. If the attorney charges by the hour find out what the hourly rate is. If the attorney charges a specified fee for certain services and by the hour for supplemental services, find out what services are reasonably anticipated in your case and find out what exactly is what and how much it costs. Do not be shy. Ask questions. And, if the attorney charges by the hour for all or some of the services, you will also need to find out if the attorney will require a retainer and if so, how much will be required. Additionally, you will need to find out if the retainer is refundable or non refundable.

Your search to find a lawyer should also include consideration of how much attorneys typically charge in your geographic area. Attorneys in the Central Florida area typically charge between $150 to $350 per hour depending on the area of law they practice, the lawyer's experience and legal skills, their location, and other factors. If you will be charged hourly, ask the lawyer what their hourly rate is and consider whether the rate seems reasonable considering the type of lawyer you are consulting, the lawyer's experience, the complexity of your situation, and any other factors you deem relevant.

What Level of Service Do You Expect?
Additionally, if you will be charged a flat fee for your case, your search to find a good attorney should include consideration of the legal services you will require. Your search to find a lawyer should also take into account the level of service you would prefer. Consider whether you will want the lawyer to sit down with you for however long is necessary when you have legal questions or whether a hurried five minute call will have to be sufficient. Also, your search to find a lawyer should take into consideration whether the lawyer will be available to meet with you at the office a day or two before your scheduled hearings or if the lawyer will meet with you for five or ten minutes at the courthouse right before your hearing starts.

Your search to find a good lawyer should also take into account whether the attorney will be available for extended meetings as necessary over a period of months in order to make sure that you are prepared if your situation is more complex or involved. The level of service you expect may be the most important consideration in your search to find the best lawyer for you. Different lawyers have different styles and personalities. Taking this into consideration will help you to choose a lawyer when you are ready. Try to make sure your lawyer's style and personality is right for your needs and expectations.

Are You Being Quoted a Reasonable Fee?
Your search to find a good attorney should also take into consideration approximately how many hours your case is reasonably expected to require and if the fee you are being quoted is reasonable. For example, if a reasonable rate for your type of case and for the lawyer you select is $250 per hour and your case is likely to require approximately 20 hours of actual billable attorney work, you should expect to pay around $5000. If you are being quoted significantly more, you should find out why. On the other hand, if you find a lawyer that will handle that same case for $1000 (only 4 hours at $250 per hour), ask yourself if you are truly getting a phenomenal bargain or if something is amiss.

Try to match up the numbers with your experience at the consultation and with your discussions and observations from the consultation. Trust your instincts. If the numbers do not match up, or if you feel something is missing or is not quite right, you should probably continue your search to find a lawyer.

How to Find a Good Lawyer – Part 8

The Law Offices of J. Manuel Acevedo, P.A., are located at 116 North Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida, 32771.
Attorney Acevedo is a lawyer admitted to practice law in Florida, has clients from Florida, the United States, and other countries, and primarily
serves Seminole County, Volusia County, Orange County, and Lake County, and the following cities: Sanford, Longwood, Lake Mary, Heathrow,
Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Oviedo, Goldenrod, Fern Park, Forest City, Midway, Geneva, Chuluota, Winter Springs, Wekiva Springs, Deland, Deltona,
Orange City, Debary, Lake Helen, Daytona, Deleon Springs, Orlando, Apopka, Maitland, Lockhart, Azalea Park, Winter Park, Mount Dora, Tavares, and Eustis.
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